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> It wasn’t always difficult to migrate between computing platforms. During the heyday of the PC, jumping from a Dell or Compaq to a Macintosh, and vice versa,
by rchaud 3y ago
> It wasn’t always difficult to migrate between computing platforms. During the heyday of the PC, jumping from a Dell or Compaq to a Macintosh, and vice versa, was relatively easy, because users had almost unrestricted access to their own files, most of which could be counted on to work across different brands.
> That portability largely ended in the mobile era. Apple, Google and a graveyard’s worth of other companies restricted access to internal software mechanisms, adopted more unique file types and “sandboxed” apps so each one had its own isolated data.
Call it a "computer in your pocket" and lock it down harder than Fort Knox so users become less computer literate over time. That's a big part of the smartphone revolution's legacy.
- nunez 3y agoUsers never wanted to be computer literate. Many of them saw computers as a tool, like a hammer or a car. Super locked down devices that are fast and easy to use is better than everyone getting pwned by viruses because they can't be bothered to install an antivirus or not share their passwords with strangers.
- dragonwriter 3y ago> Users never wanted to be computer literate. Many of them saw computers as a tool, like a hammer or a car. Cars have an associated “literacy”, too. (Really, so do hammers, but its comparatively trivial.)
- GenericDev 3y agoThis assumes a lot about users. I'm a user. I want a device that's fair, controllable, extendable, customizable, and lets me control my own data.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- rchaud 3y agoWhen was the last time you heard of someone getting pwned by a virus on their computer? Viruses and malware were common in the 2000s desktop computing era, pre-Windows Defender. Not now.
- no_time 3y ago>Call it a "computer in your pocket" and lock it down harder than Fort Knox so users become less computer literate over time. Samsung literally calls their flavour of this tech "Knox". Though "Guantanamo" would be more fitting.